Auxiliary Light Plans - Suggestions?

[barlowrs]

Well I am starting to plan my roof rack build, and I need to finally pull the trigger and make a choice on lights so that I can build it around the size I choose. I have been searching and reading all threads here related to auxiliary lights and think I have come up with a plan. I love the look of lightforce lights, and have read a LOT of good things about them here, but they are pretty pricy, and I am poor. I have also read some good things about Hella lights and their price is more my range, so I think I will combine them to get the best final result as follows:

2 LF 140 (maybe 240) on top of my allpro bumper (allow me to adjust the beams :Wow1
2 PIAA 510 Fogs (included inside the bumper)
2 Hella 500FF Fogs on rack pointed forward (outside) * Note: There is an error in my pic below, the outside lights should both be fogs
2 Hella 500FF Driving on rack pointed forward (inside)
2 Hella 550 Fog on rack pointed right and left (one per side)
2 Hella 550 Fog on rack pointed rear

It will lay up this way:

I think this will give me the benefit of the LF adjustability up front where I want it, and not break my bank too much as the Hellas are considerably cheaper. I may find later (when I actually have to pay for them) that I might just run 2 up top rather than 4, or maybe none on the front bumper and the two LF on the inside of the top.

Anyone have comments or suggestions please chime in, I am all ears and looking for advice. This is just what I have come up with after reading threads, but auxiliary lights is by no means my forte, so please give me feedback.

Thanks:smiley_drive:

 

[ExpoMike]

First comment is WOW, that's a lot of lights. LOL

Not sure what your rig is but I would make sure you have a very high output altenator and very good batteries to run these. If you power all of them and nothing else, you are looking at about 55 amps of current draw.

If you are only looking to light up camp area around your rig, you might go to a single light in the rear as duals might be serious overkill. Again you also might look at LED reverse lights for the side and rear, as you will get good lighting for setting up camp without the current draw.

Just an idea. Post up pics when you get it built.

 

[barlowrs]

Thaks for the feedback! Yeah, that is my concern, it is a lot, then again, Id rather have it be too many and only run a few them, than find myself somwhere where I wish I had them. I think you might be right on the rear, a single is good enough for my sides it should be good enough for my rear.

What kind of LED lights are good? From what I have seen they are quite a bit more money. If there are any comparable in price, please let me know as I would love the power power draw.

I intend to run these off of an aux battery. My stock alt is pretty high output (tow package on the new taco) but I will be watching it closely. If it cannot handle the dual batt setup with all the accesories, it will be upgraded. I also will most likely not be running them all at once, its more of a "i have them if i need them" type thing.

 

[sargeek]

Lights

Good design, but I think you will be dissapointed with the performance of the "Fog" lights on the roof rack.

The fog lights on the roof rack will produce a terrible glare on the hood. I tried to use a set of fog lights on a roof rack for auxiliary back up lights and they were terrible. I ended up replaceing them with inexpensive work lights that were much more effective.

That light is $9.00 at Amazon will save you $ that can be used to purchases bigger & better lights for the front.

Other Hella Options for the sides or reverse:

Matador Work Light:

or

My other two suggestions:
1) I would mount the Hella Driving Lights on the bumper since they use a "Driving Beam" pattern. I believe the Light Force lights have spot or pencil beam that would be more effective on the roof, providing long distance illumination.
2) You may want to move the side lights towards the front of the rack, would be more helpful when using them while the vehicle is in motion.

Good luck and post picture when done!

 

[jasondavidmann]

I agree with spot lights on the roof. I have two spots on my roof mounted light bar and I aim them just outside the area covered by the high-beams. Fogs have a very wide pattern and will give you glare.

here are a few pictures to show you the spots in action

high beam only:


high beam with two spots:


light bar, mounts to factory roof rack:

 

[barlowrs]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I actaully like that go light, and didnt realize they are not too expensive. :drool: Hmmmmmm the possibilities. Maybe I should run two driving lights on the outiside and a Go Light in the center and get rid of the fogs. Ohh choices choices.

 

[jasondavidmann]

The Go-Light is nice, mine gives a very small (and bright) beam. I found it in the garbage at the utility company that I used to work for. This one was off a bucket truck and was used to shine up high (from a 75' bucket truck) there may be other models that have a different beam. Anyway I like the light, the passenger needs to operate it while driving on road but it is awesome around the campsite.

 

[Hilldweller]

Take a look at the lights that RDM Offroad offers. I'm in my planning stages as well and already have two HIDx lights up front; boy howdy, they're bright.
I plan on a pair of Solstice LED cubes flanking my third eye for reverse lights and a couple of A-pillar lights. I'm also going to ask Santa for these:
http://www.suvlights.com/product_info.php?products_id=214&osCsid=18f70b125aadc5e6d61cd1fb93ef4fcc

 

[ExpoMike]

Though I haven't gotten it mounted yet, I picked up a Go-Light from TacoDoc a couple months back. I originally was going to do something similar to above with side and back lighting but with this, I think it will cover all of that since I can just spin it around to where I need it. Can't wait to get it installed.

 

[barlowrs]

Take a look at the lights that RDM Offroad offers. I'm in my planning stages as well and already have two HIDx lights up front; boy howdy, they're bright.
I plan on a pair of Solstice LED cubes flanking my third eye for reverse lights and a couple of A-pillar lights. I'm also going to ask Santa for these:
http://www.suvlights.com/product_info.php?products_id=214&osCsid=18f70b125aadc5e6d61cd1fb93ef4fcc

I would love to run LED lighs with the low draw they have, but they are MUCH too rich for my blood. I am stuck with old fashioned lights..haha

 

[barlowrs]

OK, well thanks to all of you guys input, I have revised my plan a bit. I have got rid of the fogs up top for fear of glare and have decided on to run a GoLight in the center. I am still going to run two lights in the rear, ONLY because they come in pairs. If I can find someone selling an individual one, then I will probably just run one in the back. I have also moved the side lights forward and angled the two driving lights up top out a bit. (This may change once I find out how the go light patter is).

As for wiring, I want to make this look as OEM as I can, so I am going to do the following:

- Front Fogs: Wired to my existing fog light on the dash
- Front Lightforce: Wired together to another OEM Fog switch on the dash
- Rack Hella 500FF: Wired together to an OEM Fog switch mounted on the overhead console (where the sunglass storage is..see link below)
- Rack Hella 550 Sides: Wired together to an OEM Fog switch mounted on the overhead console (where the sunglass storage is)
- Rack Hella 550 Rears: Wired together to an OEM Fog switch mounted on the overhead console (where the sunglass storage is)
-Go Light (this one will be fun):
-On/off: Wired together to an OEM Fog switch mounted on the overhead console (where the sunglass storage is
- Movement Control: I want to try to wire this to a side mirror controller that will be installed between the lights on the overhead console. This should make it look clean and stock. I hope.

The picture of the overhead console is huge and I am too lazy to resize it, so I am just posting a link if you’re interested in seeing where I plan to mount switches.

http://www.toyotatacomacompassrepair.com/images/picture_122__4_.jpg

 

[Hilldweller]

I would love to run LED lighs with the low draw they have, but they are MUCH too rich for my blood. I am stuck with old fashioned lights..haha

The HID lights cost $109 each and are 3600 lumen each (more light than 3 halogen headlights). The solstice cubes are $119 each.

 

[87FoRunner]

For lighting on the sides and rear I would run some simple tractor lights with a simple, cheap H3 LED bulb. :coffeedrink:


When I get un-lazy, I will post a writeup on how to retrofit some.

EDIT:
This

Plus

This

 

[craig333]

You don't want fogs on the side or rear. Something like this

though the boschs are a bit pricey and hard to find, or this

Just swap out the stock bulb swap in a GE H7614. More juice than LED but you don't run side or backup lights long anyways.

 

[Mr. Leary]

I plan on using a few LED back up lights for trailers to use as camp light. Low power draw, light but not blinding, cheap, durable, and easy to replace. They are about $10 a peice.